A Reconciling in Christ synod
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What We Get To Do Together: Next Faithful Step
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I recently shared with you a vision of what we get to do together as Christ’s Church here in the ELCA Rocky Mountain Synod. That vision includes:
·
celebrating the
generosity of congregations and individuals that helps fuel our ministry;
·
growing as
leaders in Christ’s Church through our new
Excellence in Leadership initiative;
·
expanding our vision for
outdoor ministry through Messiah Mountain Retreat Center;
·
concluding our current
Educate, Equip, Enact
(3E) initiative and applying for an new Lilly Grant;
·
claiming our
distinctive
ELCA gifts within the larger church so that our grace-centered gospel experience informs our engagement with the world;
·
supporting
new and innovative ministry as we live into the church we are called to become.
In order to actively step into this vision of what we get to do together, your Synod Council recently approved a draft
Strategic Plan 2.0 for the Rocky Mountain Synod and endorsed a
feasibility study to determine the energy and capacity for a
possible synod mission campaign. As part of this study,
interviews and surveys will be conducted by our colleagues from GSB (Gronlund, Sayther & Brunkow) this spring so that our 2019 Synod Assembly can choose how to take the next faithful step into the Holy Spirit’s ever-unfolding future. I pray that if you are asked, you will agree to participate in this time of shared discernment.
I believe with my whole being that our calling to be the Christ’s Church today – including our call to live from the particular gifts of our part within Christ’s Body – matters more than ever. Thank you for your part in helping us take the next faithful step as God’s people of the ELCA Rocky Mountain Synod.
Yours in Faith,
Bishop Jim Gonia
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eConnection Spotlight:
RMS in the Neighborhood
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RMS Campus Ministry Winter Retreat!
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Jaen Emmanuel Ugalde Becerra, University of New Mexico
Thirty young adults from eight campus ministries, along with our leaders,
gathered in February to enjoy the snowy mountains and pine trees at Rainbow Trail Lutheran Camp. Led by friends from Colorado State University, we were able to sing songs of freedom and joy as a community. Our Saturday morning was particularly special with a delicious breakfast followed by time with representatives from five ELCA seminaries from across the country. They led our group through an activity called Faith Road, where we mapped out our faith journey and answered questions like, "Who are some of your faith role models?" Thank you to those who made this retreat possible for us, especially Bethany Lutheran Church Foundation, Cherry Hills Village, and Our Saviour's Lutheran Church, Fort Collins.
Without your support of campus ministry, we would not have these transformational journeys and ways of knowing.
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RMS Prayer Cycle
MARCH 2019: BOULDER/BROOMFIELD CONFERENCE
Week of March 17
Cross of Christ - Broomfield, CO
Kathleen Armstrong
Will Johnson
Grace Lutheran - Boulder, CO
Janice Kibler
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Join us in daily prayer:
Download
ELCA Prayer Ventures
for daily guides to prayer for the global, social and outreach ministries of the ELCA, as well as for the needs and circumstances of our neighbors, communities and world.
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Sunday, March 17
Second Sunday in Lent
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Prayer of the Day
God of the covenant, in the mystery of the cross you promise everlasting life to the world. Gather all peoples into your arms, and shelter us with your mercy, that we may rejoice in the life we share in your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever
In God's Hands: Ecumenical Prayer Cycle from the World Council of Churches
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"Lasting Hope", A Lenten Retreat
Augustana Lutheran, Denver
Saturday, March 16, 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
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Dovetailing the devotion book of the same name,
"Lasting Hope,"
based on the Psalms with the work of other scholars, the pastors will lead a time for deepening faith in Jesus and connecting with each other through Lenten practice and study.
Cost is $10 for lunch and materials; make checks payable to
Augustana Lutheran Church, memo: Lenten Retreat
. More information
h
ere
.
Please plan to attend regardless of cost-- scholarships are available. Deadline to RSVP is Thursday, March 14 at 4:00 p.m.
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World Down Syndrome Day
Boondocks Food and Fun
Thursday, March 21 from 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
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Newcomers — A Gathering with Helen Thorpe and Lutheran Family Services
Saint Peter Lutheran Church, Greenwood Village
Sunday, March 24, 1:00 p.m.
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First Lady Helen Thorpe will be presenting at Saint Peter (
map
) for a conversation about
welcoming the newcomers and will center around her new book,
The Newcomers: Finding Refuge, Friendship, and Hope in America.
. We invite you and your congregations to join us for this event.
We’ll gather for a light lunch at 12:30 p.m.
(there is no cost to you, but we would appreciate a rough estimate of how many might be coming from your congregation to help us plan for lunch and seating,
click here
),
and Helen and Lutheran Family Services will present afterwards.
The purpose of the event is two-fold:
- To raise awareness of refugee issues in Colorado
- To collect household items needed by 11 refugee families who have recently arrived in Colorado
Our flier, pictured below, is available for download
here
. We can create custom fliers for you if your congregation wants to focus on collecting a particular household item.
Saint Peter has created a
Facebook Event
. Feel free to respond, or use it to create one of your own.
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Grandview University 2019 Music Choir Tour
Sunday, March 17 at 4:00 p.m.
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The
Grand View University Choir
will perform at
Zion Lutheran Church, Salt Lake City (
map
) on Sunday, March 17 at 4:00 p.m.
as part of its eleven-day 2019 Spring Tour through Nebraska, Wyoming, Utah, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and Montana. They will perform their
Home Concert on Sunday, April 7 at 3:00 p.m. at Luther Memorial Church, Des Moines, IA (
map
)
. The Grand View Choir tours extensively throughout the United States as well as regularly in Europe. Wherever they sing, they have been praised for their excellence in musicality, blend, programming, and attention to detail.
The tour program,
O Day Full of Grace
, proclaims that all of our days are in God’s hands. The themes of the pieces cover all aspects of our day – morning, work, leisure, struggle, joy, and evening, and then usher in that greatest of days – eternal day.
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Germany 2020: Study Tour and Oberammergau Passion Play
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Pastor Jared Carson from Peace Lutheran Church, Las Cruces is organizing a study tour to Germany in June 2020. This trip is open to anyone in the Rocky Mountain Synod. The trip includes the Oberammergau Passion Play, which occurs every 10 years. Because of the popularity of the Oberammergau Passion Play, he is asking people to reserve their spot for the study tour now. The bulk of the tour will highlight Lutheran Reformation sites. Don’t miss this chance to dive into Reformation history first hand! If you are interested in the trip, brochures and more information are available online:
http://peacelutheranlc.com/germany-2020-study-tour/
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Bridges Not Walls Holy Land Delegation
Friday, July 26 through Tuesday, August 6, 2019
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Young Adults, ages 17 to 35 join an alternative pilgrimage of peace and justice in the Holy Land!
Visit key sites in and around Jerusalem (including Bethlehem and Nazareth). Deepen faith and develop peace-building, leadership and advocacy skills while building relationships with local Palestinians and Israelis, including active youth and young adults of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL), and others engaged in the pursuit of peace and justice in the Holy Land.
Cost is approximately $1,350 (lodging, meals, transportation, tour guide fees, entrance fees, tips). Airfare to Tel Aviv not included in price (approximately $1,000-$1,200). Registration & Deposit of $350 due by March 15, 2019. Trip Leaders: Trena Montgomery and Jessica Morton Smith.
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The Summit 2019: Learning to Support our Youth with Mental, Emotional, and Social Health Issues
Monday April 8, 11:00 a.m. through Wednesday April 10, 11:00 a.m.
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You know how hard your youth ministry staff works for your congregation. Well, Rainbow Trail wants to give them a little bonus for all that they do. The Summit, RTLC’s youth ministry retreat, is for your youth and family ministers. And it is absolutely FREE. The Summit will be held April 8-10, 2019 at camp and is free to church personnel who work with youth in the Rocky Mountain Synod. Our keynote speaker, Julie Miller, will be talking about “Learning to Support our Youth with Mental, Emotional, and Social Health Issues.” Julie is an expert in this area and is excited to share her knowledge around MESH issues and youth. We look forward to offering a time of personal renewal, professional development, continuing education, and networking with other Youth Directors, Pastors, and Christian Educators. Contact Daniel at
daniel@rainbowtrail.org for more information and details. Registration is open!
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LFS' 25th Annual Gala on April 26 - Mark your calendars!
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The LFS Gala is our premier fundraising event which features a night of dinner, entertainment, an auction, and companionship.
More information here! Silent auction item donations are still needed - can you or a group of friends put together a gift basket, or donate a gift certificate or item to help raise funds for our human service programs? For more information or to schedule a pick-up, contact Katie Scherr at
katie.scherr@lfsrm.org.
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Resource Corner
check back each week for a new or featured resource for your congregation
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Stewardship Toolkit for Congregations - April 2019
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Here's your
April 2019 "Stewardship Toolkit" from the Lower Susquehanna Synod, comprising an original newsletter article and RCL-based "stewardship snippets" that you can cut and paste into your publications. It also has resources to explore the theme set out in the newsletter article. This month's theme is
"Stewardship of God's 'very good' creation." Click
here to download, and save this link where you'll always be able to get the
current toolkit.
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Minister for Pastoral Care (part-time)
Abiding Hope, Littleton, CO
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Organist/Accompanist (part-time)
St. Andrew Lutheran Church - Arvada, CO
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St. Andrew, Arvada is looking for an organist/accompanist interested in a year-round, part time position supporting our Sunday worship environment and accompanying our small, fun, volunteer choir, on both organ and piano. Responsibilities include Sunday morning worship, weekly rehearsal with the choir (Sept-May), a brief warm-up rehearsal prior to worship, and occasional special services, including Christmas Eve, mid-week Lenten services and Easter. See job description for more details and see our website for more info about St. Andrew. Please contact Lynn Kimbrough with questions or to share a resume at 720-641-1961;
lynnmkimbrough@gmail.com
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Office Administrator (part-time)
Holy Love Lutheran Church - Aurora, CO
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Holy Love Lutheran Church
is seeking an experienced Office Administrator to support staff, volunteers and congregation members. This is a part-time hourly position averaging 20-25 hours per week. The successful candidate will have a positive attitude, be self-motivated and have a professional work ethic with excellent organizational skills. Knowledge of office computers and software (Microsoft Office Suite) and previous work experience using Microsoft Publisher is a plus.
Interested and qualified applicants,
please click here
to see a more detailed job description, requirements, fill out a short application, and upload your resume.
Only applications through this portal will be considered.
This position will be filled as soon as possible, and we will move quickly through the process.
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All
Non-Rostered Positions
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Minister for Pastoral Care (part-time)
Abiding Hope, Littleton, CO
Organist/Accompanist (part-time)
St. Andrew - Arvada, CO
Office Administrator (part-time)
Holy Love Lutheran Church - Aurora, CO
Administrative Assistant (part-time)
First Lutheran Church - Longmont, CO
Preschool Director, South Table Mountain Preschool
Faith Lutheran Church - Golden, CO
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Office of the Bishop This Week
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Bishop Jim Gonia
- In office appointments
- Candidacy Committee
- Augustana, Denver, CO
- Northern Colorado Retired Pastors Gathering
- RMS 3E Meeting
ELCA DIRECTOR FOR EVANGELICAL MISSION
Pastor Matt Barnhouse
- El Paso Office: March 13-22
LUTHERAN ADVOCACY MINISTRY NEW MEXICO
Ruth Hoffman
LUTHERAN ADVOCACY MINISTRY COLORADO
Peter Severson
- Legislative Session
- FAMLI event rally
- Evergreen Lutheran
- King of Glory, Loveland, CO
- Faithful Tuesdays
ELCA REGIONAL GIFT PLANNER
Tina Kvitek
- 1-1 appointments
- Shepherd of the Valley
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ASSISTANT TO THE BISHOP FOR CONGREGATIONAL LIFE
Pastor Sarah Moening
- ACT4RMS Anti-racism team
- Interim Pastors
- St. Paul, Calhan, CO
- Congregation Transition
- Trinity, Monument, CO
- Trinity, Boulder, CO
ASSISTANT TO THE BISHOP FOR LEADERSHIP SUPPORT
Pastor Kent Mueller (1/2 time)
- Lutheran Center Administration
ASSISTANT TO THE BISHOP FOR SYNODICAL LIFE
Deacon Erin Power
- RMS Communications
- Synod Assembly Planning
ASSISTANT TO THE BISHOP FOR FAITH FORMATION & CANDIDACY
Pastor Leslie Welton
- Candidacy Committee
- In-office appointments
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You are welcome to directly contact
Andrew Nakatan
i
, Communications Assistant, with questions, comments, or concerns you may have about eConnection or our website!
Rocky Mountain Synod
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
800-525-0462 / 303-777-6700 / fax 303-339-4744
Submissions
are due noon Monday each week and will run for about two weeks.
Past issues of eConnection may be found
here
.
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